The Irish standard., 1887-01-01
HONEST OLD JABEz.

HONEST OLD JABEZ.
! Ia Meets Il Man and Furnishes Material
for u New vers on OF an Old story.
Jahez S]ushington had seven thou
,and hand-s,,aved shingles to sell,
and hc was going to town to
Ticker those shingles for merchan-
iise Jabez wore his llannel-backed
Jest, a pair of doeskin pants,
]1ipskin boots plastered with stove
olacking, and a sized chip hat. He
mounted the seven thousand shingles,
and drove out of Frog Hollow with
smiling face. Jabez went on his way,
dreaming dreams that mortals never
dreamed before-unless the dreams
were achored to load of seven thou
sand shingles and two hundred and
seyenty-nine different errands and COM
MISSIONS
| Jabez sold the shingles and then met
a man.
Many a domestic tragedy would
have had more OF the rose, and honey,
and sweet, if the central figure hadn't
met a man. Upon the blotted escut-
cheon of fallen men. without number,
a great nation might engrave: Met q
man.
$50 you're Jazeb Slushington, of
Frog Hollow, are you?' inquired the
man. ''My names Jones, plain John
Jones; and spent two weeks up in
! the Hollow last summer atm SO very
forgetful--,ny COUSINS -
t:Jason?'
/ eyes; Jason's place. I got along
nicely witll-what q0as that postnas-
! tcr's name?"
..Slimmens?''
eyes; Slimmens. Nice sort OF
mani
.'Ebp Say, Jones, if our Miss Slim
mems, our postmistress l mean, heard
you call her man
/ "Ah. yes, hem-and, just SO. / arn
so oneg]igent about such things. She
was stunner'--
.sPlainest female in the Holler.''
'But so skilled in conversational
powers: BY the way-I forget your
name"
"Slushington, Jahez Slushington. !"
/; 'sSlushington, it you are open for a
snap, think | can give you a
pointer"
"Don't know what you mean,
JONES'" said Jabez.
/ N'Are you in for making a specP'
"Money?"
s.That's what mean
| ..Well, don't mind if I do How's
Che thing done?" Jahez was a specuia-
tor from way back, and if there
was chance to increase his pile he
could be counted in every time.
"Follow me; but, have you got few
dollars with you?':
"a few. Sold them shingles, and
got to do a leet]e tradin' tore [ go
back to the Holler. However, don't
mind increasin' my pile for do go
back: If you got any p'ints to show
Like a greedy goose going to the
p]ucking machine. Jabez followed the
aHable Jones to the lair of the tiger.
He met lot OF nice, sleek-looking
chaps there who all wore bright dia-
monds in their shirt-bosoms. They
had very white hands and puffy eye
lids. 1t didn't take long for Jabez to
become acquainted with all hands
around. In short time neat little
game of poker was organized, and
Jabez was told all about It. The boys
with puffy eyelids and white hands
smiled as they saw what mod
est goose they had to pluck. Jabez
was very unskilled in the use of his
cards. and had to be told quite often
not to show his hand. He said he
didn't know much about the game.
and asked to be excused for making
mistakes.
In all, Jabez had about fifty dollars
when he entered the tigers lair. The
birds of prey never worked so hard in
their lives to get that fifty collars,
'sRudgers, more wine.
s'Not any wine fur me. I don't
drink nuthin' but cider-and then only
my own make" broke in Jabez, as he
raked in the pot for the third time.
The game proceeded and the tigers be-
gan to get uneasy. They rung in all
the snaps they knew, but the rude,
plain farmer in his quiet way met
them all with smiling face-and won.
About two o'clock in the morning
Jabez was the onl y man at the table
who had any money. He also was the
only sober man. He stuffed his pock-
cts with bills, bulged his pockets with
coin, put his hat on, backed to the
door, and said:
.sGents, I'm glad you give me some
p'ints. I'm powerful glad l seen you